STATEMENT OF DECISIONS MADE
AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD
HELD ON
3rd JANUARY 2008
PRESENT:
Councillor Brian
Silvester
(Leader of the Council – in the Chair)
Councillor Rachel
Bailey
(Portfolio Holder for Planning)
Councillor John
Dwyer
(Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities)
Councillor John
Hatfield
(Portfolio Holder for Finance)
Councillor John
Hammond
(Portfolio Holder for Local Environment)
Councillor Margaret
Simon
(Portfolio Holder for Customers)
Councillor Ray
Westwood
(Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods)
NON-BOARD MEMBERS IN
ATTENDANCE:
Councillors B Evans, A Moran and S
Roberts.
OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Paul
Ancell
(Chief Executive)
Jenny
Cross
(Executive Director, Treasury and Corporate Support)
Rachel
Goddard (Assistant
Solicitor)
Paul
Goodwin
(Assistant Director, Accountancy & Audit)
Bill
Howie
(Democratic Services Manager)
Vikki
Jeffrey
(Head of Housing)
David
Marren
(Executive Director, Direct Services)
Alan
Millington
(Strategic Manager, Planning & Development)
Gareth
Roberts
(Economic Development and Estates Manager)
Joanne
Smith
(Democratic Services Officer)
Claire
Wilson
(Community Development
Manager)
NOTE: The following Decisions should
be read in conjunction with the corresponding reports which
accompanied the Board Agenda issued on 20th
December 2007 together with the report
issued on 3rd January 2008. The agenda and reports
are available on the Council’s Internet Website. http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/
97.
DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST
Agenda Item 14 – Mayoral Nomination
2008/09
Councillor Silvester declared a personal
interest in this item on the basis that he was the Councillor who
was to be put forward for nomination to the Office of Mayor of the
Borough for the year
2008/09.
Agenda Item 15 – Review of Cheshire
Replacement Waste Local Plan
Councillor Hammond declared a personal
interest in this item on the basis that he was a Member of
Haslington Parish Council.
98.
BOARD DECISIONS –15TH NOVEMBER 2007
The Board received the Statement of Decisions
made at a meeting held on 15th November 2007.
99.
RECONSIDERATION OF DECISIONS
No decisions had been referred back to the
Board for reconsideration.
100. CONSIDERATION
OF SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS/
RECOMMENDATIONS
There were no comments/recommendations from
the Scrutiny Committees on this occasion.
101. CONSULTATION
DRAFT BUDGET 2008/09 AND BUDGET
PROSPECTS 2008-2012
The Board considered the report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
The report presented the Draft Budget for
2008/09 including the revised estimates for the current year and
the implications of the provisional Local Government Finance
Settlement.
DECISION:
That the draft Budget 2008/09
(including the Scale of Fees and Charges which are the subject
of a separate report – see Decision No 102 below) be approved
as the Consultation Draft Budget, to be considered in various
consultation exercises through January and February
2008.
Alternative Options:
There are many options available to Board when
considering the Council’s budget and these will be further explored
during the consultation period.
Reasons for the Decision:
The Draft Budget has been prepared as a basis
for consultation and following consultation a revenue budget for
the coming year is approved that contributes to the delivery of the
Council’s corporate priorities, other service objectives and
statutory responsibilities.
102. FEES AND
CHARGES 2008/09
The Board considered the report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
The report provided details of the proposed
Scale of Fees and Charges for 2008-09 which were to be included in
the Consultation Draft Budget.
It was noted that there were anomalies in
the proposed charges in respect of the Lock-up units at Nantwich
Market (p.68 in the draft Budget Book). A revised copy of the
relevant page would be published and distributed.
DECISION:
That the Scale of Fees and Charges
2008/09 be approved, subject to the amendment detailed above,
for inclusion in the Consultation Draft Budget
document.
Alternative Options:
Individual key headline charges within each
service area could be varied up or down with the potential
commensurate effect on the overall income that could be generated
for that service.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
Maintaining and improving income from fees and charges is
important in helping to ensure financial stability in the
medium term.
(b) The
fees and charges proposed take into account current local market
conditions and comparable fees and charges currently charged by
near neighbour authorities and private and voluntary sector
competitors where appropriate.
103. INTRODUCTION
OF DISCRETIONARY CHARGING FOR PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
ENQUIRIES
The Board considered the report of
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
A review of non-statutory functions of the
Planning Service and opportunities for discretionary charging for
these services had been undertaken. A number of options had
been explored and the report detailed the preferred option for the
introduction of charges for enquiries relating to whether planning
permission was required or not.
A revision to the recommendation in respect
of the level of fees was proposed at the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL:
(A)
That a fee should be charged
for the handling of enquiries relating to whether or not
proposals constitute permitted development; and
(B)
That the standard enquiry
fee be £35.
Alternative Options:
As detailed in the report.
Reasons for the Decision:
The proposed charges take account of
experience of implementing such charges elsewhere and reflect the
additional costs of providing this non-statutory service.
These proposals are also in line with the provisions in
the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Local
Government Act 2003.
104. CHESHIRE
LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT
The Board considered the report of
Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods.
The report set out the performance of the
Cheshire Local Area Agreement (LAA) 2007-2010 at mid-year. It
also contained details of the progress made by the Communities
of Cheshire Partnership on the delivery of the Cheshire LAA
2007-2010 and the delivery of the second generation
Local Public Service Agreement.
DECISION:
(A)
That the Cheshire Local Area
Agreement reporting cycle, as set out in Appendix 1, be
agreed;
(B)
That the progress made by
the Communities of Cheshire Partnership in the delivery of the
Cheshire Local Area Agreement 2007-2010 be noted;
and
(C)
That the progress made by
the Communities of Cheshire Partnership in the delivery of the
second generation Local Public Service Agreement be
noted.
Alternative Options:
To propose amendments to the review of the
Cheshire LAA.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The Local Government and Public
Involvement in Health Act places a statutory requirement on
local authorities to develop a Local Area Agreement and duties on
named partners to co-operate with the authority. LAA’s
will ultimately help to make public services more responsive
to community needs and help develop
sustainable communities.
(b)
The Communities of Cheshire
Partnership has agreed a project outline for the 2008
review/refresh of the 2007-2010 Cheshire LAA in accordance with
Government expectations. The Cheshire LAA needs to be
refreshed in 2008 in order to release the single LAA grant
payment to Cheshire County Council as the accountable body.
105. SAFEGUARDING
CHILDREN
POLICY
The Board considered the report of
Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for
Neighbourhoods.
The Children Act 2004 placed a duty on
District Councils to ensure that all its functions were discharged
with regards to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children. In order to develop a framework to promote
safeguarding for children and young people the Council needed to
introduce a Safeguarding Children Policy. The report provided
details of the proposed policy and related documents.
RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL:
That the Safeguarding Children
Policy and Procedures together with the recommendations for
Training and Development in accordance with Section 11 of the
Children Act 2004 be
adopted.
Alternative Options:
To amend the proposed Safeguarding Children
Policy and Procedures.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The adoption of
the Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures will ensure that
the Borough Council meets its legal responsibilities for
safeguarding children and young people in respect of the Children
Act 2004.
(b)
The Council will have a comprehensive policy. This will
enable staff to be aware of safeguarding issues; know and
understand reporting procedures; and acknowledge and understand the
need to share relevant information internally and externally.
106. CHOICE BASED
LETTINGS SCHEME
The Board considered the report of Councillor
Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
In July 2006 the Board approved, in principle,
the participation of Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council in a
partnership bid for funding from the Department of Communities and
Local Government to develop a Cheshire Sub-Regional Choice Based
Lettings Scheme. In December 2006 government funding for a
feasibility study was obtained and the report provided details of
the recommendations from the feasibility study on options for the
way forward. The report also detailed the preferred
option of the Cheshire Sub-Regional Choice Based Lettings
Partnership for Board approval.
DECISION:
(A)
That Option 3, as detailed in the report, be taken forward
as a Sub-Regional Choice Based Lettings Scheme; and
(B)
That, in the event of the existing Chester District Housing
Trust Choice Based Lettings Scheme being extended to include Vale
Royal partners and Ellesmere Port and Neston, the remaining
Sub-Regional Choice Based Lettings partners (Congleton, Crewe &
Nantwich and Macclesfield) would take forward a 3-district
Sub-Regional Choice Based Lettings Scheme based on Option
3.
Alternative Options:
(a)
To introduce a local Choice Based Lettings Scheme for Crewe and
Nantwich; or
(b)
To join with an existing Choice Based Lettings Scheme
elsewhere.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The Government’s Housing Plan “Sustainable Communities: Homes for
All”, published in 2005, requires all local authorities to have
Choice Based Lettings by 2010.
(b)
The implementation of a choice-based lettings scheme will be in
line with Government targets, cost effective and appropriate to the
needs of housing applicants.
107. REVIEW OF CREWE
AND NANTWICH PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING RENEWAL POLICY
The Board considered the report of Councillor
Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
The current Private Sector Housing Renewal
Policy was approved by Council in June 2006 and came into force on
the 1st July 2006. The report outlined proposals
for the publication of a draft revised policy for
consultation. The proposed revision updated the Council’s
policy on Private Sector Housing Renewal and continued to introduce
new initiatives for the improving housing provision in the
Borough.
DECISION:
That the revised Crewe and Nantwich
Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy be published for public
consultation, for four weeks during January 2008, as detailed in
the draft Executive Summary.
Alternative Options:
To amend or to reject the revised Private
Sector Housing Renewal Policy.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) The
revised policy replaces the existing housing grants policy and
complements local, regional and national strategies relating
to housing renewal and regeneration. It also links in
with one of the key objectives within the Council’s Housing
Strategy “to ensure housing
conditions do not adversely affect people’s health”.
(b) The draft
policy should assist the Council in achieving the
following objectives;
To continue with the grant aid priorities
previously agreed;
To introduce Home Improvement Assistance and
to make changes to existing initiatives, looking at reducing
the numbers of non-decent homes, bringing empty properties back
into use and to improve the energy efficiency of the housing
stock; and
To continue to review methods of funding
repairs and adaptations to properties.
108. LOCAL AUTHORITY
BUSINESS GROWTH INCENTIVE
The Board considered the report of Councillor
David Brickhill, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development.
Local Authority Business Growth Incentive
(LABGI) was a three-year initiative, rewarding past economic
growth. The report contained details of how the LABGI monies
had been spent or earmarked for allocation to date together with
details of the balance remaining. A balance of £208,470 was
available for ‘Business Growth’ spending and the Board was asked to
approve the allocation of £165,000 for the schemes detailed in the
report.
DECISION:
That £165,000 from the balance of
LABGI monies remaining be allocated for the schemes outlined in the
report.
Alternative
Options:
To approve an alternative programme or not to
allocate the funds to economic growth.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The programme will utilise part of the balance of LABGI monies
remaining for investment on Business Growth. This will assist
the Council in working with stakeholders, businesses and the South
Cheshire Chamber of Commerce to create a more economically
substantial
Borough.
(b)
There is recognition that strong economic investment benefits the
social fabric of society and reduces crime and disorder.
109. TIMETABLE OF
PUBLIC MEETINGS 2008/2009
The Board considered the report of Councillor
Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder for Customers.
The report contained details of the draft
Timetable of Public Meetings for 2008/2009 together with an
appendix of explanatory notes.
RECOMMENDATION TO ANNUAL COUNCIL -
14TH MAY 2008:
That the draft Timetable of Public
Meetings 2008/2009 be approved.
Alternative Options:
(a) To amend the Timetable of Public Meetings
2008/2009; or
(b) To reject the Timetable of Public Meetings
2008/2009.
Reason for the Decision:
The Council is required to give public notice
of its meetings in order to fulfil its legal obligations. The
timetable will assist the Council in meeting this requirement.
110. MAYORAL
NOMINATION 2008/09
The Board considered the report of Councillor
Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder for Customers.
The report provided details of the current
Mayoral Conventions and the Seniority List. An alternative
recommendation was tabled by Board Members at the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL:
That paragraph 5 of the Mayoral
Conventions adopted by the Borough Council be
suspended.
RECOMMENDATION TO ANNUAL COUNCIL –
14TH MAY 2008:
That, subject to the
suspension of paragraph 5 of the Mayoral Conventions adopted by the
Borough Council, the Annual Meeting of the Borough Council to
be held on 14th May 2008 be invited to consider the
nomination of Councillor B G Silvester for election to the office
of Mayor of the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich for the year
2008/09.
Alternative Options:
(a)
To follow current Mayoral Conventions; or
(b)
To establish an alternative method for the selection of Mayor
Reasons for the Decision:
In view of the recent decision to re-organise
the structure of local government in Cheshire the Board feels that
Councillor Silvester, as the longest serving Councillor who has not
held the office of Mayor, should be given the opportunity to hold
the office of Mayor of the Borough in the final year of Crewe and
Nantwich in its current form.
(Note: Councillor Silvester
withdrew from the meeting for this item).
111. REVIEW OF
CHESHIRE REPLACEMENT WASTE LOCAL PLAN
The Board considered the report of Councillor
John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for the Local Environment.
The Cheshire Replacement Waste Local Plan is
subject to annual monitoring and review. The monitoring and
review process provided an opportunity for Cheshire County Council
to consider removing the Clayhanger Landfill allocation from the
Plan. The report proposed that a letter be sent to Cheshire
County Council requesting the removal of the Clayhanger allocation
from the Plan when it was reviewed. A copy of the draft
letter was distributed at the meeting.
DECISION:
That the submission of a letter by the
Borough Solicitor to Cheshire County Council to request that the
Clayhanger landfill site allocation be removed from the Cheshire
Replacement Waste Local Plan when the Plan is reviewed be
endorsed.
Alternative Options:
Not to endorse or support the submission of a
letter to Cheshire County Council.
Reason for the
Decision:
In light of the refusal of planning permission
for a landfill site at Clayhanger, the granting of planning
permission for Kinderton and the potential for an oversupply of
landfill capacity if two landfill sites operate in Cheshire the
County Council should consider the removal of the
Clayhanger allocation from the Cheshire Replacement Waste
Local Plan.
112. REPORT OF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECT SERVICES (FOR
INFORMATION)
In accordance with Contract Regulations, the
Executive Director, Direct Services reported on tenders that
had recently been invited and received.
113. EXCLUSION OF
PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED: That the press and public
be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following
item pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972
on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt
information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as
amended) of the Act.
114. PROPOSED
REDEVELOPMENT ON SITES AT GATEWAY AND FOURTH
AVENUE, CREWE (PARAGRAPH
3)
The Board considered the report of
Councillor David Brickhill, Portfolio Holder for Economic
Development.
The report related to two separate sites
within the ownership of the Council on Gateway and Fourth Avenue,
Crewe Gates Farm Industrial Estate, Crewe. The Council had
been approached by a developer who wished to redevelop the
sites.
DECISION:
(A)
That, in order to allow the site to be redeveloped; approval
be granted in principle for a new 125 year Lease to The
Marbury Trading Company Ltd for a single premium of £525,000
subject to the surrender of the existing leases and the
grant of planning permission for the proposed
development by the company; and
(B) That delegated
authority be granted to the Borough Solicitor in consultation with
the Economic Development and Estates Manager to agree such
other terms as they consider necessary to protect the
interests of the Council.
Alternative Options:
As detailed in the report.
Reasons for the
Decision:
The disposal of the land will generate a
capital receipt for the Council and by allowing the re-development
of the land it is envisaged that increased levels of employment
from the site will be obtained.
………………………………….Signed